>> well, i think the united states has to urge israel and has to be with israel 100% in protecting israel's security. you're absolutely right. these are terrorists. you've got rockets coming into jerusalem which even saddam hussein, during the persian gulf war, the war in 1991, even he did not send missiles, sent rockets into jerusalem. this situation is dire and i'm sure like you, i have friends, family, loved ones whose kids are in the military, families live there. you can't live with rockets pouring in. so i do think our role has to be to try to secure peace and security for israel, whether through negotiations or through support of israel's right to defend itself. >> rick: that's been the message from the white house is that the administration, the united states believes that israel has every right to defend itself. we heard today from the president's deputy national security advisor that the president and benjamin netanyahu have been in touch every single day since this conflict began. what more should or could the u.s. be doing? >> well, you know, there is this term, light footprint.